Top Ten Stocking Stuffers for the Photographer

Find great gifts for everyone on your list this holiday season with our top ten stocking stuffers.

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The holidays are drawing ever closer and you still haven’t finished the gift shopping. But I’m here with great news. Everyone loves to take pictures, whether as a casual hobbyist or a seasoned professional, and there is a huge range of gifts out there for photographers of all levels. Here are our top ten gift ideas perfect for stocking stuffers:

Memory card. Whatever type of digital camera you own, you soon realize that the memory card that came when you bought it is just too small to be truly useful when you head out on vacation. You can easily buy a 4 or 8GB memory card at a very reasonable price – the perfect tiny stocking stuffer for anyone and everyone. SanDisk, Transcend, and Kingston are all popular makes with reliable reputations. Alternatively, for under $40, you can get 16GB from Topram.

Photo paper. We all know if you’re going to spend time taking great photos, you want them to look just as good when they’re printed out, so pick up some quality photo paper for the photographer in your life. Hahnemuhle make a wonderful sampler pack with a variety of styles, or you can find high quality matte photo paper for under $20.

Batteries. Every camera uses them; the trick is knowing beforehand what type you need to buy so do a wee bit of spy work or just ask under the guise of admiring their camera. These days, rechargeable batteries are improving in performance and are a greener option.

Compact camera case. For under $10, you can find some great compact camera cases that are stylish and durable. Whether you’re looking for a hip stripey waterproof number for the family fashionista, or something a little more traditional for dad, you can find it. The Caselogic padded case is particularly budget friendly at $6.99.

Cleaning kit. Need something in a flash (pun intended) and you don’t know what type of camera they have? Pick up a cleaning kit with wipes, brush, and cleaning solution and you’re set. Even better – these are easy to find. I’ve even seen basic kits in the grocery checkout aisle.

Camera Strap. Step away from dull black and inject some personality into your recipient's camera. Straps and wristlets have come a long way and you can find some fabulous designs that are as sturdy as they are hip. Check out some of the designs at Trendy Camera Straps.

Wireless remote. Not something you might immediately think of but it puts an end to Uncle Jack setting the timer and frantically dashing back to his seat for the festive family group shot. It’s one gadget your recipient will be dying to try out. Check out Nikon’s wireless remote (for Nikon SLRs only). Price: $17.99.

Lens filter. This can be a bit trickier as the choice of filter is largely personal preference. However, any SLR owner will find a UV filter useful so add it to the list.

Lens cap. When a photographer loses or breaks a lens cap, they are usually cursing for days. Buy them a replacement or a spare and, while you're at it, pick up a handy lens cap keeper for only $4.99.

Photo magazine. Magazine subscription prices have come down, way down. So why not give a copy of their favorite magazine and throw in a subscription too. You can get six months of Shutterbug for under $10, which means they can start reading those articles and working on their list for next Christmas.